Fantasmic! package and show times April 9, 2016

[mama22]

We are planning to arrive in WDW on Sat April 9th and will be going to HS on the first day. First time visiting with the new Fastpass+ system. We have always done the Fantasmic! package in the past and it worked out well for us. Now that you can get a Fastpass+ for the show- is the dinner package still worth it?
That day has one show scheduled for 8:30pm, but they updated the park hours a couple of weeks ago from 8pm to 9:30pm. Does that mean they may add another show time? If so, when do they normally announce this?
We booked the Brown Derby because it is the only restaurant we have not tried at HS. We enjoy good food but the prices for the Fantasmic! package are little hefty! Just want to make sure we are planning it out ok.

Thanks!

 

[sharonabe]

The major CON for using FP+ for F! is that you will not be able to get a 4th or more FP for anything else. If you don't anticipate wanting/needing that 4th FP, I would skip the dinner pkg and use the FP for F!

 

[brinkley07]

We prefer the package just to save our FP options for use in the park. I figure since we will eat a TS in the park anyway it's the easier way to do things and leaves more freedom for ride options.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

We are planning to arrive in WDW on Sat April 9th and will be going to HS on the first day. First time visiting with the new Fastpass+ system. We have always done the Fantasmic! package in the past and it worked out well for us. Now that you can get a Fastpass+ for the show- is the dinner package still worth it?
That day has one show scheduled for 8:30pm, but they updated the park hours a couple of weeks ago from 8pm to 9:30pm. Does that mean they may add another show time? If so, when do they normally announce this?
We booked the Brown Derby because it is the only restaurant we have not tried at HS. We enjoy good food but the prices for the Fantasmic! package are little hefty! Just want to make sure we are planning it out ok.

Thanks!

I was under the impression that the seats with the dinner package might be better??!?

 

[minnie mum]

Since this is your arrival day, I'm assuming you won't get there before RD. That means the lines will have built up and you will really need those FPs for the headliners. And because of tiering, you would probably want to try to get a 4th FP (if any are even available) for a ride rather than F. I'd just keep the F dining package. But then, that's what we always do. And even though the price is hefty, we've always really enjoyed our meals at HBD. Try the lamb. It's to die for.

 

[JZCubed]

We are planning to arrive in WDW on Sat April 9th and will be going to HS on the first day. First time visiting with the new Fastpass+ system. We have always done the Fantasmic! package in the past and it worked out well for us. Now that you can get a Fastpass+ for the show- is the dinner package still worth it?
That day has one show scheduled for 8:30pm, but they updated the park hours a couple of weeks ago from 8pm to 9:30pm. Does that mean they may add another show time? If so, when do they normally announce this?
We booked the Brown Derby because it is the only restaurant we have not tried at HS. We enjoy good food but the prices for the Fantasmic! package are little hefty! Just want to make sure we are planning it out ok.

Thanks!

I'm in Camp Minnie Mum on this one:

Since this is your arrival day, I'm assuming you won't get there before RD. That means the lines will have built up and you will really need those FPs for the headliners. And because of tiering, you would probably want to try to get a 4th FP (if any are even available) for a ride rather than F. I'd just keep the F dining package. But then, that's what we always do. And even though the price is hefty, we've always really enjoyed our meals at HBD. Try the lamb. It's to die for.

Package has greater value to a family arriving well after Rope Drop...unless you have no desire to ride Rockin' Roller Coaster and/or Toy Story Mania to be your Tier-1 FP+....Great Movie Ride either....

We like the Package too on Fantasmic! night....'best seats' without the hassle of arriving 20-minutes before showtime (we have a small family).

 

[Robo]

We like the Package too on Fantasmic! night....'best seats' without the hassle of arriving 20-minutes before showtime (we have a small family).

Be very careful about recommending arriving less than 20 minutes before show time.

On many busy nights you risk being locked out of F!, regardless of FP or Dining Plan.

On busy nights, the CMs will throw open the remaining seats in FP and Dining Pkg. areas to any and all guests
just waiting in line.

I recommend that you arrive no later than 40 min. (earlier than that is safer,) regardless of dining pkg. or FP.

Many, many reports of guests being shut out of F! due to arriving too late.

 

[aaarcher86]

I was under the impression that the seats with the dinner package might be better??!?

They are. Dinner seats are smack in the middle.

 

[Robo]

Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

 

[Tom P.]

We have never done FP+ for Fantasmic -- only walk-in and dinner package. But I can tell you that when we did the dinner package, our seats were fantastic. Doing the dinner package, IMHO, is the way to go. You get great seats, you keep your FastPasses flexible for other attractions (including the ability to do a 4th FastPass), and you get to enjoy a great table service meal too.

 

[mama22]

Thanks so much everyone! Seems like the dinner is the right decision for us! Thanks for the seating chart- that sold it right there!